Coding has become a must-have skill not only for those working as fulltime developers, but also for professionals looking to improve their problem-solving abilities. Through learning how to code, you can sharpen your ability to look at issues and find ways to solve them by constructing your own solutions.
Coding or programming isn’t just a skill that has become universally beneficial. The field of software development itself is developing at a fast pace. New frameworks and improved programming approaches are being introduced to the market regularly.
Choosing the best programming language to master is the first step towards becoming a capable software developer; it is your first step towards mastering coding as a skill. There are a number of popular programming languages to choose from in 2020, and we are going to review them in this article.
Java
At the top of our list of popular programming languages, we have Java. This programming language isn’t just popular because of Android’s use of Java at its programming core, but also because there are many frameworks that are based on Java today.
Blade, for example, offers a rather unique approach to the development of web apps and services. Blade provides a more universal Model-View-Controller (MVC) approach that works really well for web development. The framework is also notoriously lightweight.
The Google Web Toolkit (GWT) is another interesting Java-based framework to look into. As the name suggests, this is a web toolkit developed by Google to enable client-side Java code that can be implemented as JavaScript on clients’ web browsers. It lets you create your own browser app.
The use of Java in the development of Android apps is still the biggest reason why Java is so popular. There are thousands of companies looking for capable Java developers to work on both the front end and the back end of their apps.
Python
Python is an interesting programming language to get into. It was underestimated for so long due to its use of natural code structure and language. According to many diehard coders, Python is too easy.
That same ease of use is what makes Python so popular today. While it may seem simple, Python is capable of handling complex processes and gives you the flexibility you need to create solutions to a wide range of problems.
There is very little you cannot do in Python. Want to develop a fully-featured web service? Python has you covered. Do you need to create your own machine learning environment? Python can do that too. The programming language can also be used for data processing.
In fact, Python is closing in on Java as the second most popular programming language on the market right now. There are more coders learning to code in Python exclusively, and there are just as many courses to help you become a Python expert.
JavaScript
The most popular programming language this year is JavaScript. JavaScript is different than Java in several important respects. For starters, Java is a programming language, while JavaScript is often classified more as a scripting language. This means Java applications run on virtual machines and browsers, while JavaScript codes can only run on browsers. Of course firstly you need to enable javascript on your browser.
Another way Java and JavaScript are different is in how you code. Java codes need to be complied before they can be executed. With JavaScript, you write the code in plain language and you can run the code right away, even on a local machine in some cases. All you need is a web browser that supports JavaScript.
JavaScript is very popular due to the immense popularity of web applications. Anything from eCommerce to special tools and fully-featured web apps can be developed using JavaScript. Similar to Java, there are also frameworks that you can use to speed up the development process. Node.js, for example, allows you to write complex JavaScript routines without writing hundreds of lines of code. This, when coupled with a Node.js web hosting plan allows you to create extremely powerful, dynamic web applications with relative ease.
Swift
Swift is Apple’s take on what a programming language should be like. It is a native language designed for developing iOS and macOS applications. Since the coding language itself is developed by Apple, you can expect the entire coding experience to be just as fluid as the company’s operating systems.
Swift is based loosely on Objective-C, the programming language used to construct Apple’s operating systems. However, Swift is nowhere near as complex as Objective-C, especially with the graphical development environments.
Learning to code in Swift is an incredibly enjoyable experience. You’ll be surprised by just how easy it is to write your first iOS app using Swift. There are countless tutorials and even more resources – including source codes and example apps – that you can turn to whenever you need pointers or solutions to certain coding issues.
Another reason why Swift is so popular is because of its child-friendliness. Yes, kids are now learning Swift as a programming language with the help of iPhone and iPad apps. If children can develop their own apps using Swift, you definitely can too.
Ruby
We really can’t talk about popular programming languages without talking about Ruby. While the language isn’t the most popular on the market, it is certainly the most loved, particularly among developers.
Ruby is a programming language that focuses more on clean and readable codes. You can write a complex function in just a couple of lines of code; writing the same function in other programming languages normally takes a lot more lines.
Ruby is also considered high-level because of its ability to handle complex functions. That said, you can actually read Ruby and understand what each line of code is meant to do. Ruby is designed to be as readable as it can be, making learning this programming language easy.
One last thing to note about Ruby is the wealth of frameworks available. You seldom have to start from scratch when developing a Ruby-based app. You only need to find a suitable framework as a starting point and you are all set.
So, which programming language should you study? Each of these popular programming languages offer their own unique advantages. You can choose the one that suits you the most based on your programming requirements and personal preferences.